Head-to-head comparison
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
Option A North Little Rock, AR
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
- Net price / year
- $14,327
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,722
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Memphis, AR
Arkansas State University Mid-South
- Net price / year
- $5,427
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,857
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,722 against a $57,308 total, vs $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,327 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $57,308 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,722 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | $12,080 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$330,068 | -$351,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Arkansas State University Mid-South, at $5,427 a year after aid versus $14,327 — a gap of $8,900 a year, or $35,600 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College graduates report a median $34,722 ten years after entry, $2,865 more than the $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Arkansas State University Mid-South, against 36% at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.